Summit County Labor News

PAGE FOUR

Akron UF-Red Cross Goal Is Highest in History

Summit County's United Fund-Red Cross joint campaign will be seeking a goal of almost $2,800,000 in the drive which will open October 1 and continue through October 18.

The actual quota--$2,799,195--was set last week by civic leaders at a meeting in Akron City Club. This figure, $100,000 less than the estimated needs of the UF agencies presented to the meeting, is by far the largest in the history of the UF here.

The new goal represents an increase of approximately 17 per cent over the amount raised in last year's campaign which likewise surpassed all previous achievements for local federated fund-raising. The drive in 1955 netted a total of about $2,400,000.

Present at the goal-setting meeting were members, officers and committees of the United Foundation United Community Council (UCC) and the Summit County Red Cross.

They heard the report of the needs of 40 UF agencies outlined by the UCC budget committee through its spokesman, Norman Nobil, UCC president.

The report was based on months of work by more than 100 volunteer community representatives who met with the heads of the various agencies presenting their respective financial requests for the coming year.

These citizen representatives examined the programs of the agencies, made a thorough study of individual requests and then submitted their recommendations accordingly.

Nobil, using a series of illustrative charts in his presentation, pointed out why the give-once-for-all campaign this year must raise more money to provide community services for the nearly 400,000 people served by the Summit County UF.

"Biggest reason," Nobil said, "is the expanding community--its rapid rise in population and the corresponding increase in demand for health, welfare and recreation services."

Among the other major factors mentioned as having a definite bearing on the need for more funds were rising prices and the fact the UF recently admitted two new agencies--the Summit County Mental Hygiene Clinic and the local chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Nobil also cited the fact that there are now more young children and more elderly people than ever before, both groups serving to increase the demand for health and welfare services.

The UCC president cited the greater need now to "increase reimbursement to agencies for such items as foster home boarding rates, as well as expansion of physical facilities which provide greater service opportunity."

A breakdown of the unprecedented goal figure shows $1,778,403 as the estimated amount to cover the requests of the budgeted UF agencies.

In addition, agencies under contract with the UF and other allocations account for $903,207. A 4.2 per cent reserve for collection shrinkage figures out at $117,565.

The contract agencies and their requests include the Red Cross, $323,000; Summit County Polio Society, $65,000 and Central Hospital Bureau, $317,709.

Still additional agencies and their requests in the budget are the amounts of $165,039 for UF administration, $7,209 for United Community Funds and Councils (UCFC) and $23,000 for maintenance and repair of buildings and other contingencies.

The UCFC is a national agency of the UF which renders special services to the local organization.

The campaign leaders C. A. Palmer, general chairman, and Samuel Oaks, labor chairman, accepted the record-breaking quota with confidence. However, both men stressed the need for all-out support by the community in meeting this great challenge.

Said Palmer: "While this unprecedented figure ($2,799,195) represents the greatest fund-raising task ever presented this community, we realize that human needs overshadow normal limitations. Therefore, the entire campaign organizations will leave no stone unturned to achieve this goal and thus meet these needs."

Oaks expressed a similar conviction in pledging labor's all-out support.

Palmer pointed out that with the greatly increased quota, the United Fund suggested schedule of "Fair Share" giving would assume still greater significance in the coming campaign.

"Only through closer adherence by individuals and companies to the equitable and practical pledges suggested by this guide, can we hope to attain this huge figure," he declared.

The Fair Share referred to is a table or index of suggested UF pledges, based upon income, carefully worked out in accordance with averages of more than 29,000 individual United Fund contributions in Akron one, as well as by comparisons with other cities of comparable economic strata.

For example, the annual Fair Share pledge of persons in the $4,700-$4,899 annual income group, as revealed by this study is about $18, equivalent to less than four-tenths of one per cent of the yearly income.

Palmer emphasized that increases in corporate Fair Share gifts also must be sought in order to make the campaign successful.

Russell Richmond, UF executive director, and Daniel A. Hester, campaign director, likewise stressed the importance of fair share giving and its direct relationship to attainment of this year's goal.

The Fair Share system is part of the new Chapter Plan agreement recently introduced by the UF here to make more effective in-plant solicitation and at the same time aid both company and employees with their United Fund giving. A number of Akron area firms have already "signed up" for this program. First to join the plan were the four largest rubber companies--Goodyear, Firestone, General and B. F. Goodrich--and Goodyear Aircraft Corporation.

Many other firms are expected to join soon. It is available to all local business concerns.

This advance solicitation was begun by UF volunteers June 1, among industrial concerns and will be extended to other types of businesses beginning July 17.